Yogini posts experiences from On and Off the Mat

Category Archives: #mudras

Learn to use this practical, hands-on method for a happier and healthier life. Please click the link below to read about the Jin Shin Jyutsu Practice called the Finger Holds by clicking the link below. I have an earlier post on March 11, 2015, with a YouTube video showing how to practice the Finger Holds. Remember to breathe while practicing. Practice often, every day for benefits to build, emotions balanced and more. Please share this easy Practice for well-being with others. Here’s to your good health! Namaskaram OM

I am sharing here about The Finger Holds an energy and emotion balancing technique that is safe, simple and effective. This is from the Jin Shen Jyutsu Practice developed in Japan and it is a kin to Reiki in that it is subtle, safe and uses the hands, [there are a few different spellings of the practice]. It is related to yoga in that it is an energy balancing technique that uses breathing, nadis (energy channels) similar to mudras. I came to learn about this practice due to friends who keep leading me to more wonderful enriching experiences and I might add all quite innocently. However, there is an Isha connection….when at an Isha Pooja (at Judit’s home) I met a meditator friend (Anu) who let me know of another friend who was going to hold a Memorial Service for her Mother (Anju). I attended the Memorial for selfish and friendship reasons; selfish in that it was almost the one year anniversary of my own Sister’s Mahasamadhi and that I wanted to get to know and give tribute to my new friend’s Mother. While there I met Anju’s sister Hema who is an Acupuncturist and Healer. Around the same time someone who I know was experiencing serious health issues and not responding to any advice given. I suddenly remembered meeting Hema who instantly revealed herself to be a quite powerful, dynamic, well-informed and graceful Healer, just with a glance and conversation. So……I was able to bring the friend to receive treatment from Hema who I thought would administer acupuncture but instead she applied Jin Shen Jyutsu! I was unaware of this Practice, but felt it would be safe as I had complete trust in Hema, but within about twenty minutes I witnessed with my own eyes a transformation within my friend’s entire physical and emotional being that was nothing less than remarkable! It was a different type of therapy wherein I was able to sit in the treatment area and witness the process, Hema had given me some Jin Shen literature to review and I did start to review but while it was a dark evening somehow the room was lit up when the transformation occurred and I was agog with wonder. I have since this first encounter had a couple of meetings with Hema for more specific personal orientation and information. I have also spent a bit of time reading the recommended elementary books that Hema made reference to and I have shared this with several groups: different Senior Citizens chair yoga sessions, a Girls Teen Club, Yoga friends and students. Every group had a positive and immediate noticeable experience. I might add that this is a very safe practice that everyone and anyone can apply and share with others. There is of course training courses and workshops with certifications, [The Finger Holds are just one of many Jin Shen Jyutsu practices] but I find it such a gift that there are safe, basic and easy practices we can all share. So please do watch the video and try it out for yourself, you can practice while going to sleep, (do know, not mentioned in the video, if you cannot sleep, try holding your left thumb while breathing) or any time, just don’t try it while driving or operating equipment! Also, parents can apply for their young children/babies (use opposite hands) and CareGivers too! Thanks again for Youtube and Pam Doremus of Peaceful Spirit for making this Video. Thanks to Binita for hosting last summer’s Party that got these friendship connections incubating. I do feel quite rich in that I have been fortunate to have a circle of wonderful, knowledgeable, caring people who share not only good times, good vibrations, but ways to live well, some say “have long life” but is it not better to live with optimal wellness? In Gratitude, OM

n.b.I shared here the network of friends and instances that occurred to share that one of the blessings of a yogic culture is to form friendships that are rewarding and how these informal and formal satsangs benefit all aspects of our lives….your family members may not practice or care about your yoga, but as you deepen your practice and cultivate a wider circle of dedicated Yoginis and Yogis everyone who is in your life may also benefit from the knowledge and energy you harvest. I also, always try to give a nod of thanks to All who I learn from out of respect for their teachings and to acknowledge what they share with me is valued, Namaste.

In January, in Jaipur, India there has been for many years now an amazing Literature Festival. The Jaipur Literature Festival presents many authors of numerous genres in a variety of forums. I have always wanted to be in attendance but being a Professor in a New York college requires me to be present as we begin the semester at this time. Thank goodness for the internet and more so, YouTube, as I can watch almost all the hours of the 4 or 5 days long Festival. So I take my time listening and listing all the authors and their titles that are new and interesting. Presented are authors who write in English, and a variety of languages, a majority of the authors are from or writing about the southeast asian experience. However, there are many authors from different countries, who are invited and involved in panels wherein they explore similar and different approaches to ideas which is so fascinating. I know just one author Mridula Garg, who has attended often and presented as well, sometimes we touch base and she fills me in about what I have missed. Today I listened to this video and was quite blown away by Devdutt Pattanaik, he is a master of many intellectual and scientific disciplines. His presentation and perspective is quite direct, powerful, inclusive and so much more, I intend to listen to as many of his videos….but this short one about two minutes is such an excellent explanation of this iconic sculpture The Dance of Shiva, Nataraja. We learn and practice the asana Natarajasana in hatha yoga, the image is plastered on yoga tee shirts, yoga bags, posters and more here in western yoga studios, but how much do we really understand about the significance. Studying classical Indian hatha yoga and staying connected to authentic Indian Yogic organizations that support and protect the ancient teachings is very important to me as a yoga practitioner and teacher. I think this is what differentiates my practice from commercial American yoga, I know just from the experience of the sadhana/practice, that it is not really about the physical body. In the classical tradition the body is useful to a small degree to activate the experience to higher realms of awareness so that I begin to understand how small and insignificant I am, it helps me to tame my ego….as Mr. Pattanaik states…..”our minds forget the fundamentals of life that nature is spectacular,”….Also, I learn through experience in my yoga that I am a part of nature and it is limitless the restrictions are just in my little insignificant mind, but yes this mind is useful to learn, to teach, to write this to you, but in the scope of the universe….not so important….in the solitude and quietness of my practice I feel settled calming my crazy mind to be okay with this all and to feel the pulse of my breath as an echo of the universe and that is spectacular!

And, yes there are many different interpretations, different stories about Shiva as Nataraj, this is just one, but very well stated by Mr. Pattanaik. (When I visited the Temple at Chidambaram, in Tamil Nadu, India, (with Vinodhini and the Late Radha Kant Jha, I was told that all the images carved on the temple pillars were the thousands of asanas that Shiva assumed when he was upset with his Consort, (Parvati or also known as Shakti – the Supreme Goddess), so instead of verbally lashing out or physically lashing her he used his anger and upset to create a dance or choreography of the upset experiences…..compassion at its best? What could she say to that!….what an Art form….Yogasanas the Art of Living Well. And we all have benefitted from the energy of the misunderstanding in just one “time” during this relationship, superb creativity dances for thoughts, excellent documentation temple pillars that have stood for thousands of years. Thanks be to Parvati for motivating Shiva to respond with such creativity and to Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik for sharing his knowledge with us all. Thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City for allowing visitors like me to take pictures of a Nataraj sculpture.

Please do yourself a favor and click the link just under the picture to have a listen….do share this with others….stay open and receptive to ideas…..Namaskaram…..OM

There are many significant auspicious dates and holidays to begin now and it may be confusing to some new to Authentic Indian Yoga and others may just enjoy the festivities without wondering about the underlying scientific realities. Thanks again to the Isha Blog for posting a short video by Sadhguru that explains a little about the Equinox and our relationship to the possibilities. “Allow yourself to shed the Ego and delve deep into your Limitless-ness! Thanks to my Friend Alka Mukerji (a wonderful and talented Banarsi artist living in New York) for letting me share one of her watercolors with you. Guru Ranjan from Isha Foundation shares: “September 23rd is Mahalaya Amavasya, also known as Pitru Paksha. This is a day to make an offering to honor all the previous generations of people who have contributed to our life. Without them, firstly, we would not exist here; secondly, without their contribution we would not have all the things that we have today. So, this is a day when we express our gratitude to all of them. Mahalaya Amavasya also marks the beginning of Devi’s time. The earth is acting out her role as a woman. The quarter from the Amavasya to the beginning of Uttarayana in December is known as Devi Pada. On this day, if you have a Yantra, Gudi or photos, you can do sadhana and puja….” [My friend Uma made sure I received this from Isha/Guru Ranjan to share with all the aspiring Yoginis and Yogis, thanks Uma! and today marks the Birthday of good friend Uday Arya who embodies the energy of this season so wonderfully]

Next will come Navarathri (nine nights celebrations) and Diwali thereafter OM. Just click the link under Alka’s watercolor (in the center to watch the short video). Namaskaram.

Isha Foundation offers an online 7 part course “Inner Engineering.” The Shambavi Mahamudra is the SuperKriya that one is initiated into after completing the online course. This initiation program happens at the ashram in Tennessee, USA and India. Do click the link here to listen to Sadhguru explain about the powers of Shambavi. Then go to the Isha Foundation website and check out the links for Inner Engineering for more information. This is a wonderful yogic tool to tune up your energetic powers and to bring an amazing ongoing wave of peace and much more. Thanks for taking the time to visit this blog and thanks to Isha Foundation for sharing these classical hatha yogic tools with all of us….Namaste

There are hundreds of hand mudras and in our hatha yoga we use many, Om mudra, Chin mudra, are commonly known. Thanks to the Isha Blog for writing about the science behind these hand gestures which when practiced regularly aid in our practices. I share this with a friend in mind, Kathie, for sharing time to visit the Carmel Monastery/Temple complex. She asked questions about the significance of mudras and being caught up in the ambience and serenity of the Temple I felt I didn’t fully respond to her inquiry. So grateful that Kathie took time to start off my Pre-Birthday Season with my Favorite pastime, Temple Sojourns, not as worship but to allow the magnificent energies to wash over and through! Do click the link below to read about the science of mudras….please share with your Yogini and Yogi friends, thanks and Namaste.

“The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words.” The Buddha